Phoneman vs Clara.
AI phone receptionist app for small service businesses, sold in two flat-price plans with unlimited answered calls.
You want unlimited answered calls for one flat price, native apps, and text follow-ups to callers today.
You want calls sorted Urgent to Low, an assistant that only learns answers you approve, and a free plan to start.
How they compare.
| Feature | Clara | Phoneman |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $399/year billed annually (about $33.25/month); a monthly plan is also offered source | Free plan; paid from $29.99/month for 100 AI minutes |
| Billing model | Flat monthly or annual plan, unlimited calls, no per-call or per-minute charges; extra users on Clara Pro billed per seat source | Monthly plans by AI minutes |
| Free option | 7-day free trial on eligible monthly plans; annual plans start billing immediately source | Free plan with 15 AI minutes a month |
| Extra usage | None stated; FAQ says no per-call or per-minute charges on top of the plan source | Pro: 30¢ per extra minute |
| Who answers | AI receptionist source | AI, and it says so on every call |
| Apps | IOS and Android (App Store and Play Store badges and ratings shown) source | Web app on any phone or computer; iPhone and Android apps on the way |
| Transfers | Live transfers on rules you set (urgent jobs, regulars, named requests), only to numbers you add; caller is told before connecting; Clara Pro only source | During hours you set, only after the caller agrees |
| Booking | Takes the booking request and places it on Clara's in-app calendar for the owner to confirm; Google/Outlook/Apple calendar sync described as coming soon source | Coming soon; takes the request with the details you need |
| Texting callers | One text to the caller with the next step, only if the caller agrees on the call; confirmation text after booking; Clara Pro only source | Coming soon |
| Integrations | None live beyond the in-app calendar; Google Calendar, Outlook and Apple Calendar sync listed as on the way source | Coming soon |
| Contract | Monthly or annual; no contract or minimum term, cancel anytime source | No annual contract |
| Setup | Self-serve; page says set up in five minutes and keep your existing number via forwarding source | Self-serve, about 3 minutes; reads your website |
| Numbers | US, Canada and UK site editions, plus a US Spanish edition (hreflang en-US, en-CA, en-GB, es-US) source | US |
- Unlimited answered calls on a flat plan (from $399/year), so heavy call months cost the same
- Native iOS and Android apps available today
- Consent-based text follow-ups to callers and booking requests onto an in-app calendar (Clara Pro)
- Multiple users on one account with shared inquiries and calendar (Clara Pro, per seat); plan also lists unlimited outbound calling
- Every call is written up with priority, category and the caller’s own words.
- It learns your business: drafts answers to new questions, and only uses what you approve.
- Reads your website to set itself up in about 3 minutes, with a free plan to start.
Is Phoneman cheaper than Clara?
It depends on your calls. Clara’s entry pricing: $399/year billed annually (about $33.25/month); a monthly plan is also offered. Phoneman is billed by AI minutes, with a free plan. Estimate your minutes on our pricing page and check Clara’s own pricing page for your volume.
Can I switch from Clara to Phoneman?
Yes. Set up Phoneman and call its test number first. When you’re happy, change your call forwarding to your Phoneman number.
Where do these facts come from?
From Clara’s own public pages, checked on October 22, 2026, linked below. Plans change, so confirm on their site.
Try it on your own calls.
Free to start, no card needed. Forward your calls only when you’re happy.